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Category: Accident

I had the pleasure of taking a trip through the town of Accident the other day. Accident is a small town located north of Deep Creek Lake and is usually seen by visitors as “the small town they pass through to get to the lake”. However, upon closer inspection, one can see the town offers a great deal to both visitors and locals.Of course, the first statement that we always hear is about how the town has such a strange name. Was it ‘by accident’? As a matter of fact it was! Interesting history fact: A gentleman by the name of Mr.George Deakins was to receive 600 acres of land in Western Maryland as a debt from King George II of England. Mr. Deakins sent out 2 corps of engineers, each without knowledge of the other, to survey the best land in the area. Up return and to their great surprise, each one had marked the same property. Mr.Deakins named the land “The Accident Track”, hence now the town of Accident!

Our first stop and one I always make when traveling through the area is FireFly Farms Creamery and Market, where you can buy some of their award winning cheeses (made on site!). They also offer an abundance of wines, specialty jams, crackers, and spreads. They really do offer a huge selection and encourage you to try as many as the cheeses that you wish. We scored our goods and were on your way! I highly recommend that you check them out!

The history buffs in the group will enjoy visiting Drane House, significant for its unique architecture and seen as a window into early Pioneer Garrett County life. It is believed to be one of the oldest standing structures in Garrett County today. Visitors can call and schedule to take a tour of the home. If interested, contact the Accident Town Hall 301-746-6346.

Other visitors may enjoy visiting the town over the Fourth of Julywhere they hold an annual Fourth of July parade. Craft shows and various entertainment are located throughout the town on this day and it’s a superb way to spend a special family day celebrating our patronage.

Our last stop was Annie’s Kitchen Country Restaurant for some lunch! First timer for me and I am now hooked. I chose the 6 inch Italian Sub (thank goodness I didn’t go for the bigger sub as this was enormous!). I have to say it was possibly one of the best subs I have ever had! Made with all fresh ingredients, they use a lot of herbs in the seasoning which really gives it a boost in flavor! (I’m already plotting a return stop!) The restaurant itself is charmingly decorated with memorabilia from the family run establishment with lots of pictures and signs and such. It definitely has a warm and cozy ambience. With some subtle eavesdropping, I also found out that their breakfast (served all day) is amazing. Check it out the next time that you are coming to the lake or even on your way out of town! You will not regret it.

Not much longer!

As we prepare to “Spring Ahead” with our clocks this weekend, we are still very much in winter mode with lots of snow on the ground and the Wisp is still open and going strong. A perfect time to call us here at Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations (1-866-351-1119 or online www.deepcreekvacations.com ) to check out some fantastic last minute specials on that perfect vacation home for you and your family and friends! We can’t wait to see you at the lake!

Life at the lake is beginning to calm down now that the Labor Day holiday has passed but it’s still a great time to get away for some little R & R. While there is still an abundance of activities going on in the area, now is the time to just visit and enjoy the area and scenery. Hints of leaves changing and the night time air begins to cool, perfect for gathering around an outdoor fire pit. For those, who have a love of history, Garrett County is an interesting study. As you enter our area, you will have the pleasure of driving through the small town of Accident. This is Town USA exemplified. While it is wonderfully decorated with some great shops, it is also the sight of the historical, Drane House.

Tucked away on a quiet country lane, just off of Rt. 219 in Accident, is the site of the historical Drane House.The Drane House is a key landmark in the early history of Western Maryland and a vital part of its heritage.In fact, it is believed to be the oldest standing structure in Garrett County today.

The Drane house was built in 1798 by William Lamar and was given to his sister and her husband, Priscilla and James Drane in about 1800.The Dranes and their eight children migrated to Western Maryland from the tobacco farming area of Prince George’s County.James envisioned himself a country gentlemen, raising a large acreage of tobacco with the aid of slave labor.Frontier life required long hours of arduous work to provide the basic necessities of life.Their family was one of several who attempted tobacco culture in Garrett County’s early days.These early settlers from Southern Maryland and the Piedmont Plateau never achieved the prosperity from tobacco farming that they anticipated.Expecting rapid development, they did not realize the difficulties of farming mountainous terrain. Their efforts were ultimately thwarted by the combination of severe winters, poorly constructed dirt roads and the great distance to market.While many were driven back to their former homes by the loneliness and isolation of mountain life, the Dranes changed their methods to general faming and occupied the home until their deaths.

Over the years, the Drane House had a variety of owners and occupants.In 1952, it became vacant and fell into a state of overall disrepair.It was officially into the National Register of Historical Places in 1985, and shortly thereafter a group of concerned citizens formed the Accident Cultural and Historical Society in order to explore options for the deteriorating home.The town purchased the property and was able to begin restoration through a series of grants.Architectural and archeological experts were called upon to reconstruct and preserve the landmark home.The Drane House is additionally significant because of its architecture, representing a highly unusual combination of the log and frame construction techniques.They carefully dismantled the building one log a time, then reassembled it with old and new logs.Taking years to complete, the massive restoration project was finished in 1994.

Today, the site is open daily to be viewed from the exterior and open for tours of the interior by appointment.The inside is furnished with period furniture, some of which actually belonged to the Drane family.Significant for its architecture and its association with the early settlement of Garrett County, the Drane House is a window into pioneer life on the mountaintop.For more information or to schedule a tour please call the Accident Town Hall (301) 746-6346.

It is definitely worth the visit. Afterwards, stop and visit some of our local friends. Firefly Farms has a wonderful variety of cheeses and wines. Mountain Flour Baking Co. can cure any sweet tooth and Annie’s Country Kitchen offers amazing “comfort food”.

Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations are still taking last minute reservations for this weekend for the Annual Art & Wine festival held here in McHenry. Call today for more details and let us help you find your perfect vacation home.In the meantime, we can’t wait to see you at the lake!

Last week Jodi, Linda, and I took advantage of the warmer weather and headed out of the office for a field trip excursion. We found ourselves in Accident to check out Firefly Farms, a new establishment that recently opened. What a charming little shop! Specializing in artisanal goat cheeses (made mostly in house), here you can purchase delicacies such as cheese, crackers, jams, spreads, wine, and more. We met with owner, Andrea, who was kind enough to show us around and let us sample some of their fantastic cheeses (although they were all wonderful, I was particularly fond of the Allegheny Chevre).The shop was designed so that visitors could observe the cheese making process through the large windows. They have plans in the near future for visitors to be able to actually take tours of the facility and to hear an in depth description of the cheese making process. Although you are now able to sample the cheeses and some jams, in the future they will also be doing some wine tasting at the shop as well. While in the shop, although you cannot miss it, please take time to check out the gorgeous mural on the wall that was painted and designed by renowned local artist, Mark Stutzman (most famous for his rendition of a young Elvis Presley on the US postage stamp.) It adds a wonderful serene ambience to the already quaint looking shop.I highly recommend that the next time you are coming to the lake that you stop into the shop and check it out. Located on Main Street, it is impossible to miss. Say hello to Andrea, sample some cheese & crackers, and check out their assortment of other delicious appetizers. It is definitely worth the trip. Until next week, we can’t wait to see you at the lake!